Olga's Gallery

Ancient Greek and Roman Myths Notes

Zeus (Jupiter)

Zeus was the greatest god of the Greek pantheon. In many latest
versions of the myths the principle god of Roman mythology Jupiter
was associated with Zeus.
Zeus belonged to the first generation of Olympians. His father, Titan
Cronus, ate all his children, because of the prediction that one of them
would overthrow him. Rhea, Cronus’ wife, though could not have saved her
first five children, managed to hide Zeus and instead of him gave Cronus
a stone to swallow. She kept Zeus in a hiding place, where Nymphs took
care of him. His nurse was the Nymph (or goat) Amalthea, who suckled him.
Nicolas Poussin. The
Infant Jupiter Nurtured by the Goat Amalthea.When Zeus reached adulthood he fought his father, the latter vomited
all the swallowed children, Zeus’ sisters and brothers: Hestia,
Demeter,
Hera,
Poseidon,
and Hades. Together they captured the power.
Zeus became the King of the Olympians, and married his sister Hera, who
gave birth to Ares and Hephaestus.
Beside his wife, he had many mistresses, both mortal and immortal, by whom
he had numerous children, some of them also became Olympians: Apollo
and Artemis, Athena,
Dionysus.
See: François Boucher. Jupiter
and Callisto.CaravaggioJupiter,
Neptune and Pluto.Correggio Zeus and Io.Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Jupiter
and Thetis. Jupiter and Antiope.Paolo Veronese. Jupiter Expelling
the Vices.Jean-Antoine Watteau.Jupiter
and Antiope.